Student&#39;s lap-board and book-support.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

' J. DOESERIGH.

STUDENTS LAP BOARD AND BOOK SUPPOR APPLICATION FILED MAR. l, 1907.

JOHN DOESERIOH, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

STUDENTS LAP-BOARD AND BOOK-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed March 1, 1907. Serial No. 360,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN DOESERIOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Students Lap-Boards and Book-Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to improvements in lapboards and book supports, and particularly to the kind that are adapted to be folded when not in use.

The invention comprises the production of a main board or support, an auxiliary board secured thereto, and means for holding the auxiliary board in an inclined position relative to the main board.

The object in view is the production of a lapboard or book support that will provide a substantially horizontal surface for one or more books and the like, and an inclined surface for one or more books, and means for holding the book or books on the inclined surface.

Another object in view is the production of a support or lapboard that has a substantially horizontal surface and an inclined surface for accommodating books and the like, means for holding the various surfaces in correct position during the use of the board and means for permitting the folding of the surfaces when not in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsz'Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support formed according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 ,the same being shown in its folded position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of my invention, certain parts being broken away to better disclose the operation thereof. Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. 4 on line 44.

In the provision of a support for books, matter being copied, and the like, it has been found desirable to make a support that will be easily moved about and held by a person using the same without difficulty, and also one that is comparatively inexpensive.

In the present invention it is in the object to provide a device accomplishing the above named results, together with others that will be fully hereinafter described.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a comparatively large lapboard that is designed in operation to rest upon the lap of a person using the same. Secured to the main board 1 is an auxiliary board 2 comparatively small in contradistinction to board 1, and is pivotally secured to board 1 by a hinge 3, preferably of cloth, which is preferably extended the full length of the board 2. It will be evident, however, that the hinge 3 may be made in several pieces, or if desirable metallic hinges may be used with advantage. It will be observed that the outer edge of the surface of board 1 meets the inner edge of the upper surface of board 2, so that if auxiliary board 2 was not supported in position, the same would form a continuation or arm for board 1, and have its outer surface on the same horizontal plane.

In order to hold the auxiliary board 2 at a proper angle for supporting a book or the like, I provide clasps 4 and 5 that are pivotally mounted on arms 6 and 7. Clasps 4 and 5 may be of any preferred construction, but they must be of such construction as to easily clasp the sides of auxiliary board 2, and also to include the sides of a book when the same is placed against board 2. In order to accomplish this more readily the clasps are provided with comparatively long gripping jaws 8 and 9, and comparatively short extensions 10 and 11 for easy manipulation by the fingers of the person using the device. The supports 6 and 7 each consists of an upright arm which is positioned at any desired angle with respect to the lapboard 1 and is formed with an extension that is adapted to pass beneath the edge of board 1 and be engaged by a su orting clasp or binding member '12. It will be observed that the angle of the supporting arms 6 and 7 will determine the angle at which auxiliary board 2 will be positioned when in operation. Under some circum stances it might not be desirable to use clasps 4 and 5 to hold the book or other matter against the auxiliary board, and in order to provide a holding means auxiliary to the clasps 4 and 5 I secure a cord 13 preferably of elastic material to auxiliary board 2. Cord 13 may be secured in position'in any desired way, but I preferably provide apertures 14 and 15 near each end of board 2 through which cord 13 is adapted to pass. After threading the ends ofv cord 13 through apertures l4 and 15 the same are tied or secured cured to the board 1.

together in any convenient way at, the back of the board.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, a device will be seen that is constructed slightly different from the form shown in Fig. 1. In this modification, I provide a main board, as 1, an auxiliary board 2, and hinge as 3, similar to the preferred construction. Instead of roviding supporting arms at 6 and 7, and c asps as Land 5, I provide in the modification a supporting spring member 16. The spring member 16 is pivotally mounted in a journal member 17 which is firmly se- The spring 16 may be made of any desired construction, provided the same will have one end resting upon the rear side of board 2 and hold said board at an angle to board 1. However, Iypreferably form spring member 16 with a leg or member 17 parallel with the sides of board 1, and another member 18 at right angles to member 17 and parallel with the ends of board 1. From member 18 the spring extends at right angles upward as at 19 to the journal member 17, through journal member 17 parallel with the sides of board 1,

, then at right angles to member 19 as at 20,

and on the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of board 1. Member or portion 20 extends to the rear the distance of the thickness of auxiliary board 2, and then is bent upward at any desired angle and forms a sup orting leg or member 21 to board 2, and t en the outer end is again bent at right angles for forming a support 22 for board 2.

v The supporting leg or member 21 is bent or formed at any angle desired for supporting auxiliary board 2 at any desired angle for supporting books and the like during the use of the device.

may be used upon board 1 and the text book or Hide-0f any kind may be held in osition onioard 2 for ready reference. W en it is desired to discontinue the use of the device, the auxiliary board 2 is simplyfolded down upon 1 and then placed away, or if desirable, the same may be supported upon a hook or the-like by arm or member 22.

In the preferred construction when the device is not in use the auxiliary board 2 is folded" down upon main board 1 and the support ing arms 6 and 7 to ether with their clasps4 and 5 are folded own beneath the main board 1. If desired the clasps, instead of being folded downbeneath the main board, as seen in Fig. 3, may be permitted to grasp the rear edge of board I, and this will prevent any movement of the arms and clasps, and will prevent the same from getting in the way when the device is not in use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described comprising a main support, an auxiliary support secured thereto and positioned at an angle t0 the main support, and pivotally mounted clasps mounted on said main support and engaging said auxiliary support for holding said auxiliary support in'position at an angle to the main support.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a main support, an auxiliary support hinged thereto, supporting arms pivotally mounted on the main su port, and clasps carried b the arms, said 0 asps being adapted to hol the auxiliary support at an angle to the main support, and also to hold a book or the like on the auxiliary su port.

3. A device of the character escribed, comprising a main sup ort, an auxiliary support hinged thereto, 0 asps for holding said auxiliary support at an angle to said main support and for holding a book on said auxi'lrary support, and ivotally mounted arms for su porting said clas s, said arms and clasps -eing adapted to fo ld beneath the said main support and said auxiliary support being adapted to fold above said main support.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DOESERIOH. Witnesses:

Jo N L. FLETCHER, A. L. KIToHIN. 

